Trusting God in the Unknown: Stories of Faith & TriumphSample

The Pivot in the Pandemic
By Takhia Gaither Stuckey 

I have been a teacher for 18 years, and for the most part I have loved it. However, for the last three years, I had been feeling a pull to do something else. I could not put it in words until 2020—the year the world closed. First, let’s rewind to Fall 2017. 

The birth of my youngest child was nothing short of a Grey’s Anatomy emergency room scene complete with the yelling, screaming, and chaos. Before his birth and after I appeared to have it all together on the outside, but on the inside, I was falling apart. I went from depressed to anxious to some combination of the two. Sitting at work one day, on the verge of another meltdown, I went to the restroom and talked with Jesus. Almost immediately, the answer to every question I asked began to be revealed. 

Fast forward to November 2020. After 18 years as a teacher, 12 years with an autoimmune condition called Myasthenia Gravis, and me praying about whether or not to stay in the classroom, I received a response: “Move when I say move.” I did exactly that—took the step, filed the papers, and out I went for the remainder of the school year. 

Shortly after, amidst discussions of another possible shut down, it became clear that there was a possibility of me losing my position at my school. With every new piece of information, I responded, "it’s ok, God’s got me covered." Turns out that "covered" was an understatement. If you have ever seen the social media meme of a woman cutting her step across the church, that is me on the inside every time I see a new way that He’s made. 

As I continue to walk in obedience, I have seen God open new doors. These days, I get to fully engage my passions and gifts in purposeful ways as a blogger, author, and editor. I have learned that God wants a "yes" and our obedience. It is our job to give them to Him. If the upcoming years take even wilder turns than 2020, that "yes" is the navigation system to keep us on the right path.

Reflection Questions: 

1. In what ways has it been challenging to say yes to what God wants me to do?

2. Am I engaging the gifts He has given me in meaningful ways?